Conditions

There are many types of cardiovascular conditions. Millions of people are managing one or more. Here we feature articles with insights from health experts as well as patients and their families along with great guidance and resources for managing conditions.

Hyperkalemia is too much of a good thing: potassium. When it occurs it can interfere with the electric signals produced in the middle muscle tissue of the heart, possibly leading to different types of heart rhythm problems.

People typically have a spectrum of emotions after a heart attack. Common feelings include fear, anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness - but also hope for the future as well as relief at having another chance.

Even if you have it, you may have never have felt the quivering atria at the heart of atrial fibrillation (AFib). When the heart’s upper chambers (atria) quiver irregularly instead of beating strongly and consistently, it can lead to trouble in the form of blood clots, stroke, heart failure or other heart-related complications.

In the 50s, after a heart attack a patient was likely to have their doctor prescribe 12 weeks of bedrest. Today’s patients may not even get 12 hours before they’re out of bed. Part two of our four-part After A Heart Attack series focuses on cardiac rehabilitation.

If you don’t know the answer, you’re not alone. Many survivors feel scared, confused and overwhelmed after a heart attack. Read the first in our four-part After A Heart Attack series to help guide your steps and connect with resources to support your recovery.

When Jang Jaswal immigrated to this country from India in 1985, he assimilated one part of American culture quite enthusiastically: “When I came here, I got hooked on fast-food fried chicken,” he said. “Every lunchtime, I would buy a bucket and eat it.”

New life experiences described as ‘unremarkable’ merit high approval. A doctor’s appointment that concludes with ‘unremarkable’ in your medical chart is one. A seamless, multi-stop transatlantic flight is another.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries to the legs, stomach, arms and head — most commonly in the arteries of the legs. Survivor Elizabeth Beard shares the wisdom of her experience with PAD.

Ellie Brady was the picture of health, a wife and mother training for a half marathon. On a nine-mile training run she got out of breath. As the week progressed so did her symptoms — back pain, chest pain, uncontrollable chills — until she could no longer ignore them.

“I had no idea what cholesterol was or what impact having high cholesterol could have on me,” she recalled. It wasn’t long before she found out. Within two years she was diagnosed with heart disease and had open-heart surgery for a double bypass.

Special Topic Supplements

You had a heart attack. Now what? If you don't know the answer, you're not alone. You probably received a lot of information and instructions from your doctor. This Special Topic Supplement will help you understand what happened and what you need to do to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Honored with a Spring 2017 Digital Health Award, this special topic supplement brings all four parts of our award-winning heart failure series, along with other articles of interest to those living with HF, together in one helpful publication.

Resources For Patients & Families

Answers by Heart is a series of downloadable patient information sheets presented in a question-and-answer format that's brief, easy to follow and easy to read. They also provide room for you to write down questions to ask your doctor.

The term 'heart disease' is often used - but there are many types of disease that come under this category. This companion piece to "The Heart of a Woman" in our Spring 2015 issue provides a list of some of the most common conditions in the heart disease spectrum.

My Life Check® was designed by the American Heart Association with the goal of improved health for all Americans. Any person can make these changes and even modest improvements to your health will make a big difference. Start with one or two. Know your heart score.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has created an online community called the Support Network. The goal is to connect people living with heart disease and stroke with others who are going through similar journeys.

For over 20 years Stroke Connection has been the award-winning voice of support, information and inspiration for a vast community of stroke survivors and their families. Now offered exclusively as a digital publication, it's available virtually everywhere.

Cooking at home can be a daunting task, but a rewarding one for your diet and lifestyle (and your wallet). Making small changes in your diet is important to your heart health. Here are simple, healthy and affordable recipes and cooking tips.